Preview or open a docx file

Anonymous
2018-05-07T21:25:23+00:00

I am trying to open or preview a docx file in outlook or word. I have upgraded to office 365 thinking it would fix my issue with trying to preview/view docx files, but it has not. I can not preview it in outlook (says no previewer installed) and if I click to open it in Word I get an error saying "Word experienced an error trying to open the file", but if I do the dance to open it in Google Docs it opens without a problem. The files are not corrupt, it happens with ALL of the docx files I receive, and they are from a trusted source. I have tried to repair office with the online repair option with no change.

Please help me fix this issue so I don't have to use google to view my docx files. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and any suggestions provided.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-05-12T14:58:55+00:00

    I uninstalled and reinstalled office, and the docx problem is still the same

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  2. Stefan Blom 353.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-05-12T17:02:21+00:00

    Try hiding the preview pane in File Explorer. At least in the past, that has proven to be a workaround for this long-standing issue.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-05-13T17:09:17+00:00

    I did turn off the preview pane in file explorer, and it does stop me from seeing it in there but has no effect on preview in outlook or seeing docx files in Word. I still cannot see them there

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  4. Stefan Blom 353.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-05-13T22:34:53+00:00

    Which version of Word are you running?

    Here, I can preview Word documents from within Outlook 2016 (version 1804) without problems.

    Sometimes, though, previewing in the online version of Outlook fails, depending on which browser I am using.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-05-13T22:48:17+00:00

    I am using office 365, downloaded to my desktop, so I run it through the apps (have not tried to view through web browser). The problem started with my office 2013, then upgraded to 365 a few weeks ago, same problem in 365. I have tried to roll it back to older updates, completely removing office and reinstall, have been walked thru checking my registry, standing on my head, nothing has worked yet!

    Works fine on my laptop, and can view on my android phone thru word app, just not the desktop (my main work spot)

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